SPA Modeler

You’re quite welcome Kari. I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with for this project.

May I just add this here? I read this last year. It was helpful to me.

https://paulbudzik.com/tools-techniques ... erman.html

I don't know anything about Shermans but I recently saw this...

Bruce, that is a helpful link. Too bad that he did not include the Academy and Italeri kits as well. But it is a good introduction to most of the basic Sherman variants aside from excluding the HVSS (aka E8 or Easy Eight) suspension, the initial production M3 type VVSS bogies, and the late M4 composite or hybrid hull.

Here is a quick rundown on types, except for one case, the difference in designation is due to the power plant used. Changes in suspension, hull hatch and glacis plate configuration, internal ammunition stowage, and turrets/gun were introduced to most various versions remaining in production.

M4- welded hull and a gasoline fueled radial engine. Final production type had a cast front end mated with a welded rear and sides for the hybrid or composite hull type. Not produced with T23 76mm gun turret.

M4A1- single piece cast upper hull and same gasoline radial engine as M4. Late production had the large hull hatches, and T23 76mm gun turret.

M4A2- welded hull with twin Diesel engine power plant. Later production had revised flat glacis hull plate, larger hull hatches, late two hatch 75mm turret or T23 76mm gun turret. Slated primarily for Lend Lease export, but was used in PTO by USMC.

M4A3- welded hull with Ford GAA gasoline powered engine. Later production had revised flat glacis plate, larger hull hatches, late two hatch 75mm turret or T23 76mm gun turret. Type selected for postwar use by US Army

M4A4- welded hull with Chrysler “Multibank” gasoline fueled engine, resulting in slightly longer hull. Slated for Lend Lease export, mostly to UK and Commonwealth forces, and not selected for later hull large hatch, flat glacis plate production.

For all the welded hull versions aside from the M4A4, the main way to identify them visually is by looking at the engine deck and rear plates. Aside from the composite hull M4, the welded hulls all were developed identically in production. A mid production M4, M4A2, M4A3, and M4A4 will be nearly indistinguishable from one another head on. All used the same turret.

speedgraflex wrote:May I just add this here? I read this last year. It was helpful to me.

https://paulbudzik.com/tools-techniques ... erman.html

Oh yes, very helpful for me also!

Many thanks Bruce! As Carlos also mentioned, Taska/Asuka really seems to be the top-choice!
And thank you Torben and John, Yes, the MENG will probably also be a beauty and very top candidate. Not sure though when it will be released.

My LHS has a number of Asukas Sherman tanks available, though most are out of stock..
Thosa Asukas that are in stock:

- M4A1 Sherman mid production
- M4A4 British Sherman
- British Army Sherman III
- M4A3E8 Easy Eight with T66 Tracks
- M4 Sherman late production Fay
- IC Firefly composite hull

Hmm, difficult to choose...

- Kari

When you sit and think about it, most of Western Europe was liberated in the late summer and early fall of 1944. Afterwards was “The Bulge” and the final invasion and defeat of Germany. So looking at the list, the tanks most in use during the “Liberation” period are the M4 late production, M4A1 mid production, Sherman III (British name for the M4A2), M4A4, and Sherman Firefly.

Meng profiles!

Thunderbolt VI was Col Creighton Abrams mount during the Battle of the Bulge. His Tank Battalion and later Combat Command in the 4th Armored Division would have an exemplary battle record from the Normandy breakout until the end of the war. Today’s M1 Abrams tank is named after him.

Box Art!

Thanks guys!

Have not decided yet which Sherman it will be!

- Kari